plague

Meaning

Noun

1. (capitalized, countable, often, sometimes, uncountable) The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
2. (countable, uncountable) An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
3. (countable, uncountable) A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
5. (countable, uncountable) A group of common grackles.

Verb

1. (transitive) To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
2. (transitive) To afflict with a disease or other calamity.

Synonyms

pestilence

epidemic

pest

scourge

torment

pester

bother

harass

trouble

calamity

blight

annoy

harry

black death

disaster

hassle

curse

distress

afflict

worry

tease

smite

oppress

outbreak

evil

beset

bedevil

chivy

chivvy

vex

chevy

affect

sickness

rag

chevvy

persecute

prey

enemy

dun

nag

provoke

infestation

mock

Black Death

infectious disease

molest

harm

murrain

rack

epidemic disease

Translations

peste

peste

plaga

Pest

pest

fléau

peste

peste

plaag

praga

Plage

πανούκλα

veba

plaie

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pleɪɡ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: plage

Cognate with Middle Dutch: plaghe

Cognate with Dutch: plaag

Cognate with Dutch: plagen

Cognate with Middle Low German: plāge

Cognate with Middle High German: plāge

Cognate with German: Plage

Cognate with German: plagen

Cognate with Swedish: plåga

Cognate with French: plaie

Cognate with Occitan: plaga

In summary

From Middle English plage, borrowed from Old French plage, from Latin plāga (“blow, wound”), from plangō (“to strike”). Cognate with Middle Dutch plāghe (> Dutch plaag), plāghen (> Dutch plagen); Middle Low German plāge; Middle High German plāge, pflāge (> German Plage); plāgen (> German plagen); Swedish plåga; French plaie, Occitan plaga. Doublet of plaga. Displaced native Old English wōl.

Sentences

It's like a plague .